Berman announces Oct 31 bill

By Ron Jackson

Promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions has announced that Mlungisi Dlamini the current WBF lightweight champion and Zolani Marali will meet for the vacant IBO lightweight belt at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on October 31. Marali (23-3, 13 KOs) who lost his IBO junior lightweight belt to Ji Hoon Kim in an upset on September 12 will be hoping to get his career back on rack against the unbeaten Dlamini (21-0-1, 13 KOs).

Making the junior lightweight limit for his fight against the South Korean possibly weakened Marali and cost him his title.

Marali’s trainer Colin Nathan is confident that his fighter will be stronger at lightweight.

However, he will be facing a capable fighter in Dlamini who won the vacant World Boxing Foundation lightweight belt in March 2007 with a fifth round stoppage win over Ivan Orlando Bustos.

Dlamini who has made successful defences of his belt against Jairo Demoura Dos Santos, Diego Martin Alzugaray, Gairy St Clair and Francisco Lorenzo, is strong at the lightweight limit and will prove a real test for Marali.

Also on the bill in an interesting match-up Isaac Chilembe challenges the French based Congolese Doddou Ngumbu for the WBC International light heavyweight title.

Two young prospects Thomas Osthuizen and Jared Lovett will also be featured.